Greenhouse gas emissions and removals in land and forests

In Türkiye annual greenhouse gas sequestration from the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector, which was 66.4 million tonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq) in 1990, increased to 76.9 Mt CO₂eq in 2014 but has since declined, reaching 69.2 Mt CO₂eq in 2023. This decline is primarily attributed to reduced productivity caused by climate change and damage to trees from major forest fires in 2021, which caused 10 Mt CO₂eq. In addition to forest degradation, desertification and land degradation, particularly in vulnerable ecosystems affected by unsustainable land use practices and prolonged droughts, have also contributed to this decline. Due to decreased sink capacity and the rapid increase in emissions across the economy, the LULUCF sector’s carbon sequestration, which offset approximately 29.1 % of emissions in 1990, dropped to 11.5 % in 2023, but total emissions in Türkiye also increased from 228.4 Mt CO₂eq in 1990 to 598.9 Mt CO₂eq in 2023 (162 %). According to forestry statistics, Türkiye’s forested areas increased from 20.19 million hectares (Mha) in 1973 to 23.36 Mha in 2023. However, forest fires constitute a significant portion of Türkiye’s LULUCF emissions. Efforts to combat fires have been intensified, focusing on strengthening firefighting capabilities and expanding investments in fire prevention. Despite these preventative measures, 2 579 forest fires were tackled in 2023, resulting in damage to 15 520 ha of forested land. At the national level, the goal is to sustainably expand carbon sink areas over time and increase them to levels that can offset emissions from other sectors. Enhancing circularity will enable the more efficient use of wood and other raw materials and increase substitution benefits, while research and development and innovation will support greater efficiency within the sector.